Tonight was July 4 and we had plans to join friends on the roof top of their apartment building and watch the fireworks together.
As life goes, a few of my kids got sore throats and a late night was the last thing they needed if they want to get better faster. So being the mom that I am, I sent my oldest to join his buddies and watch the fireworks while I put the rest of the gang to bed.
My 8 year old was literally sobbing that its just not fair that her older brother gets to 'have the best time ever' while she's stuck in bed at home.
I told her to imagine she had a garden. And that her neighbor had a garden. Imagine she was always looking at the neighbors garden and wondering what the neighbor was going to plant and how he takes care of his garden.
If she spent all her time looking at the neighbors garden, whats going to happen to HER garden?
Nothing. Either all her plants will die or it will be overtaken by weeds. But it definitely will not be a pretty garden.
So whats the moral of the story? Take care of your own garden, then when your garden is doing well, go ahead and look at your neighbors.
We both agreed she had a sore throat. And the best thing to do when we have a sore throat is take a warm bath, have some nice not tea with honey and an early night. That helps us heal. Its taking care of our garden.
And yes, her big brother was having fun, but it wouldn't have helped her get better to go out and have a late night.
And she really understood it. And she was okay, and she hopped into bed with her tea and went to sleep.
And really, thats what it boils down to. Taking care of our own gardens. Doing the things that work for us without worrying about what everyone else is doing.
When we are happy and content with who we are, what we are doing and where we are, then 'fear of missing out' will never really apply to you because for the most part, you will always be exactly where YOU want to be, not where 'everyone else' is.
So water your garden, plant some flowers, rip out those weeds. And have a fabulous summer doing the things that work for YOU.
Always,
